Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.

Underneath Everything

ebook
2 of 2 copies available
2 of 2 copies available

Underneath Everything is a seductive, gorgeously written debut about two girls bound by an obsessive and toxic friendship, perfect for fans of Lauren Oliver and Courtney Summers.

Mattie shouldn't be at the bonfire. She should be finding new maps for her collection, hanging out with Kris, and steering clear of almost everyone else, especially Jolene. After all, Mattie and Kris dropped off the social scene the summer after sophomore year for a reason. But now Mattie is a senior, and she's sick of missing things. So here she is. And there's Jolene: Beautiful. Captivating. Just like the stories she wove. Mattie would know—she used to star in them. She and Jolene were best friends. Mattie has the scar on her palm to prove it, and Jolene has everything else, including Hudson.

But when Mattie runs into Hudson and gets a glimpse of what could have been, she decides to take it all back: the boyfriend, the friends, the life she was supposed to live. Problem is, Mattie can't figure out where Jolene's life ends and hers begins. Because there's something Mattie hasn't told anyone: She walked away from Jolene over a year ago, but she never really left.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

  • Formats

  • Languages

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      August 10, 2015
      During her freshman and sophomore years of high school, Mattie was part of a popular, somewhat wild group of girls; when ringleader Jolene’s pranks turned cruel and dangerous, Mattie and her friend Kris left the pack for the “fantastic, untouchable status as Nobodies.” Now a senior, Mattie finds herself drawn back into her old circle of friends. She is unable to ignore Jolene’s magnetism (and frequent text messages) and has trouble resisting the boy Jolene stole from her. Exploring the effects of mind games and obsessive yearnings on a vulnerable teen, first-time author Paul’s writing has a dreamlike quality that will keep readers wondering how much is imagined and how much is real. Jolene is cast as a spiderlike villainess, luring less vibrant victims into her web. The effect she has on her targets is painfully clear, yet her motives are cloudy. Mattie, vacillating between wanting to be invisible and needing to be an object of interest and desire, is as complicated as Jolene, making what lies “underneath everything” difficult to discern. Ages 14–up. Agent: Michael Bourret, Dystel & Goderich Literary Management.

    • Kirkus

      August 1, 2015
      After dropping off the social grid for a year and a half, Mattie decides to attend a party that will change the course of her senior year in ways she never could have imagined. Running into an ex-boyfriend not only rekindles old feelings, but also sets Mattie down a path that will inevitably force her to confront the same friend who drove her to give it all away. Jolene's power over Mattie is destructive and all-consuming. Only Mattie can decide if the pleasure is worth the pain. Unfortunately for readers, what could have been a haunting story of an obsessive friendship falls flat. Jolene is far too one-sided. Her cruel intentions and manipulations are painfully obvious, and there is absolutely no evidence that she has a redeeming side, making it impossible to understand her hold over Mattie. Even worse, it makes Mattie look weak, and worse yet, references to a sexual attraction between the two feel gratuitous. A painfully slow reveal of what happened to temporarily end their friendship doesn't help matters, as it is both frustrating and disappointing. It is increasingly difficult to muster up any empathy for Mattie, as she appears to be getting exactly what she deserves, at least for most of the novel. As it turns out, what's really underneath everything just isn't all that compelling. (Fiction. 13-17)

      COPYRIGHT(2015) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • School Library Journal

      October 1, 2015

      Gr 8 Up-"Once upon a time there were two little girls alone in the world." Mattie and Jolene are-or were-best friends. The friendship, one of extreme closeness, dependency, and even danger, has been over for a year, with neither girl talking to the other. The reason for the break? A boy named Hudson who was Mattie's boyfriend until she saw Hudson and Jolene kissing. And then there is Kris, Mattie's friend since first grade, when their teacher sat them next to each other. Kris is the reason Mattie missed her rendezvous with her boyfriend. Mattie withdraws from everything, except for collecting old maps. For reasons even she does not understand, she decides to attend a Thanksgiving bonfire. When she and Hudson reconnect, Mattie decides it is time to "take back" her life and her friends, but Jolene makes it difficult. Where does truth end, and where do lies begin? What is the difference between trust and blind devotion? In this novel about relationships-both good and bad ones-that goes beyond the "mean girls" concept to the darker places of obsession and toxic relationships, Mattie finds herself walking a narrow line between finding herself and being consumed. Paul compels readers to look beyond the surface at motives and emotions and perhaps examine their own relationships. VERDICT Strong characters, an intense plot, and relatable situations make this debut novel a worthwhile read.-Janet Hilbun, University of North Texas

      Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • Booklist

      October 15, 2015
      Grades 10-1 Senior Mattie has spent the last year almost exclusively with her friend Kris, after the two of them walked away from everyone, especially the charismatic Jolene. Mattie's long relationship with Jolene is complicatedshe stole Mattie's boyfriend, Hudson, for one thing. But that's only the beginning. As the story progresses, readers become almost suffocated by the obsessive, sometimes abusive relationship Mattie and Jolene share. Evoking these disturbing feelings (between the characters, and, by extension, the book's readers) is one thing debut author Paul does well. However, the way she slowly dispenses information, sometimes in flashbacks broken off at critical moments, can distract from the denouement instead of bolstering it. Still, there are enough complications, suspicious behavior, and enigmatic characters to move the story along. The sexual innuendo (and in the case of Mattie and Hudson's relationship, actual sex) makes this most appropriate for an older audience, who may also be familiar with the burdens of intense friendship and the toll they can take.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)

Formats

  • Kindle Book
  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

Languages

  • English

Loading